Excavator.



F. R. KNIGHT.

EXCAVATOR.

911101111011 FILED AUG. 10, 1911.

1,058,066. Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

F. R. KNIGHT.

EXGAVATOR.

APPLICATXON FILED AUG.10,1911.

1,058,066. Pa ented Apr. 8, 1913.

2 BKEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRAN'K n, .xmen'r, or CORNWALL, rmw zoax.

To on whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK R. KNIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cornwall, in the county of Orange and State of New York, have inventeda new and useful Excavator, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to an improved exthose heretofore known in the' provision made for the application of the power, in its availability for much work which cannot be performed efficiently by excavators heretofore known, in its adaptability to all'condit-ions encountered in use, and otherwise.

In' using excavators the di per or shovel must be forced into the material and the material removed. It is obvious that the more accurately and directly the power is applied,

in the direction in which it is desired to move the dipper, the less the power required for these purposes, and that under many circumstances accurate control of the dipper is necessary to secure a full load with speed and economy of operation. In the excavator of my invention, the movement of the dipper is fully subject to the accurate control of the operator, so much so that in the hands of one accustomed to operate it the dipper may be moved with almost as much accuracy and with much the same motion as in the case of a shovel handled by a pair of hands; Again, excavators heretofore used are not adapted to many classes of excavating, as, for example, in small-tunnel work, by reason of the space required for their operation, chiefly on-account of the crane used to'lift the dipper, common to such excavators.

My invention contemplates the avoidance of this difliculty and provides an effective apparatus operative in limited space.

These and other objects I attain by providing an excavator which comprises a dipper, two dipper-arms or beams, and means for supporting and moving the same. The

dipper may be of any convenient kind, the. -well-known type provided with teeth and means for opening the back or bottom to empty it being satisfactory. The dipperarms may be connected directly or indirectly with it in any suitable way, the requirement in this respect being merely that. the

' Specification of Letters Patent} Application filed AugustlO, 1911. Serial No. 643,313.

nxcavaroa Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

connection of the dipper-arms be such that the torce exerted by each may be along different lines, as, for example, from the upper and lower portions of the'frame-work. The means for supporting the dipper-arms and thereby the dipper, may-consist of any suitable frame-work, that shown in the drawings and hereinafter described being particularly suitable by reason of simplicity, econom of space and the provision it affords or advantageous disposition of the engines. The means for moving the dipper-arms should be such that each can be moved independently of the other. cross-head connected with each dipper-arm running in the frame-work and moved by a connection with an engine or motor I regard as the most desirable means of accomplishing this.

In the accompanying drawings showing one form of specific embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical sect-ion along the line ll of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is a transverse section along the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrow.

The platform 4 is indicated in this instance as provided with wheels running on a track and the excavator is shown revolubly mounted thereon by means of a rotary bedplate or turn-table 5 suitably driven ihrough gearing 5. While the manner in which the excavator is rcvolubly mounted is old and well-known and any suitable mechanism will answer the purpose, the rcvolnble arrangement. is of peculiar advantage in connection with the particular excavator of my invention inasmuch as it is designed, among other things, to supply for the first time a, practical, eflicicnt excavatorfor use in small tunnels and limited space, and in such work the full circle swing cooperates with the omission of the crane/and compactness ot' the device to enable the excavated material to be delivered at the back of the excavator, as, for example, to cars on the same track.

- In the cm rudiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, dipper (i is'controllcd and (lll'lCt Kl by a pair of dipper-arms 7 and S pivoted to the dipper at 7" and 8 re spec-lively. The upper dipper-arm is also pirotallyconnected at 7 to cross-head 9, while the lower dipper arm is similarly connected at 8 to cross-head 10. Cross-heads 9 and 10 are movably mounted .on beams 11 and 12, respectively, which may be made of channel iron reinforced by a track upon 5 which wheels su porting the cross-heads run, and which ivlth the uprights 13, 14 and 15 constitute the supporting structure or frame-work. The beams thus constitute supcrimposed fixed guideways along which the cross heads or supporting members may travel in fixed paths which are most conveniently, substantially rectilinear and parallel. In this embodiment the control of the movement of the dipper-arm 7 is securedby 15 means of an engine 16 seated under the beam 11, which engine by gears 17 and chain '18 is connected with the cross-head 9. Thus, the cross-head 9 may be moved forward or back at the pleasure of the operator, its movement imparting movement. to the di per-arm 7 and hence to the dipper 6. T e dipper-arm 8 in the drawing is similarly operated and controlled by the engine 19 mounted upon the lower beam 12 of the frame-work and connected with the crosshead 10 by ,the gears 20 and the chain 21. While power may thus be separately applied toeach dip er arm, it is obvious that the movements 0 the arms are more or less interdependent by reason of the manner of their connection. It is to benoted that in the embodiment of the invention here illustrated the di per-actuating meansare dispdsed as a w ole rearwardly of the dipper and also substantially entirely within the upper and lower limits of the supporting structure. These features are partlcularly advantageous wherethc excavator is to be used in smalltunnel work, since the necessity of a crane-or similar member projecting beyond the supportin structure pro er thus obviated. It is tius apparent t at the 'operator is given exceptional control of the movement of the dipper, which may be handled ver much as a shovel is handled by a pair 0 hands. For example, in practree it sometimes happens that the dipper encounters a rock, which with the excavators now known often delays operations. With the excavator of my invention in such a case it is frequently practicable, by simply moving back the cross-head 10 and advancing the cross-head J to force the teeth of the dipper 6 under the obstacle and then by ad 56 vancin the cross-head 10 with or without advancing at the same time the cross-head 9, as "may be desirable, removing the obstacle as part of the excavated material. The arm 8 would then swing upwardly be.-

60 tween the beams 12, with the arm 7 as a,

radius. As arms 7 and 8 are free to advance and withdraw with respect to the supporting structure to swing up and down and are also adapted to be lorl-zcd in any longiiudinal position through the crossheads9 and 10, it is evident that perfect control may be had through roper manipulation of the engines. I Ans because of the rigid yet universally movable power arms a force may be directly applied for digging in any direction. As is apparent from this illustration, the excavator of my invention has far greater adaptabilit to all the vary ing conditions encountered in actual work than excavators heretofore known. It may be noted, too, that it possesses advantages in economizing power, because the power is a plied at the will of the operator in tl ie direction best adapted to the particular cir-. ctimstances and obviates thcloss of power involved in the use ofexcavators heretofore known wherein to secure movement of the dipper in one direction there is involved the application of power at an angle thereto, as, for example, to secure a horizontal movement of the di per a wasted upward push is often involve and the control over the dipper promotes economy by enabling the operator to get a di erful of material in many cases where witii present devicesthis is not practicable.

It should be understood that many modifications and-changes may be made in the particular embodiment of the invention shown 1n the drawings without in any way departing from the scope of my invention. While the particular arrangement of dipper-arms, frame-work, and means for controlling the dipper-arms shown in the drawings ossess particular advantages, it is obvious t at extensive-modification -m' ht be made in all these respects without epartiiig from the spirit or scope of the invention in its broader as ects.

claim l 1. excavator comprising a dipper, a framework having upper and lower supports for cross-heads, cross-heads movably mounted in said sup orts, means for moving each of said' crosseads independently of the other, and dipper-arms connected with said cross-heads and extending thence at an angle to each other to support said dipper. E 2. An excavator comprising a dipper, a framework consisting of uprights and beams, cross-heads movably supported by said beams, means for moving said crossheads inde endcntly of each other, and connections ctwecn said crosshcads and dipper.

3. An excavator comprising a dipper, a framework consisting of uprights and beams at different heights, cross-heads movably supported by said beams, {means suported by said beams for moving said cross- :25 leads independently of each other, and conncctions between said cross-heads and dipper. V

4. An excavator comprising a dipper, a framework, movable dipper-operating 130 means for dipper-arms, and dipper-arms connecting the same withthe dipper and capable of angular movement relative to each other, said dipper-operating meansbeing "separated and arranged for longitudinal travel in said frame-work so that the dip I perf-arms meet at a considerable angle. '5; An excavator-comprising a dipper, two power dipper-arms at least one of which is m ivota'lly secured-to said dipper and angua'rly movable with respect to the other, lon- 'tudinally movable-dipper-operating means or said dipper-arms, guideways for such operating means, and means for moving said operating means.

6. An .excavator' comprising a dipper, two di per-arms movable with respect to each ot er and at least one of which is pivotally connected to said dipper, movable, vertically separated dipper-operating means supporting said dipper-arms in swingin re ation and arranged to travel therewith and means formoving such dipper-operating means, in combination with a platform upon which said excavator is revolubly mounted. V

'7. An excavator comprising a dipper, a frame-work having uprights supportmg upper and lower beams (provided with tracks, wheels runnin on sai tracks, and supporting c'ross-hea s, means for moving said cross-heads supported by said beams, and dip er-arms connected with said crosshea s and serving to move said dipper.

8. An excavator comprising a dipper, dipper-arms at least one of which is pivotally attached thereto and capable of angular movement relative to the other, and dipr-operatin means arranged to travel in xed paths 5 r advanc'm the d1 per-arms, said ipper arms being pivotal y attached thereto.

9. An excavator comprising a supporting frame-work carrying fixed guideways, a dipper, independentlymovable dipper-arms connectedto said dipper at an angle to each other and pivotally connected to operating means, and means arranged to travel in saiduidewa s for operating -said dipper-arms mdepen ently.

10. An excavator comprising a supporting frame-work carrying upper and lower guideways, a dipper, an upper dipper-arm.

connected to sai ipper, a lower di per-arm connected to said dip er at an ang e to said upper arm and to, and separate dipper-operating means in each ideway to which said armsare attached in swinging relation for separately applying power to each dipper-arm.

' 11. An excavator comprising a dipper, a pair of dipper-arms at least one of which is pivoted to said dipper at an angle to the other arm, a pair of fixed guides, dipperoperating means movable along said guides and withdrawing mova le with respect there-- and pivoted to said dipper-arms, and means for separately moving eltherof said dipperoperating means.

' 12. An excavator comprising a suitable supporting structure, dipper-arm operating means supported thereby, a dipper, dipperarms each of which is securedat one end to said dipper and at the opposite end to said -dipper-operating means, and mechanism for independently movingsuch opposite ends of said arms in substantially rectilinear parallel paths th'rou h said dipperoperating means, so the ang e the arms bear to each other may vary as such opposite ends are moved.

13. An excavator comprising a suitable supporting structure mounted ona revoluble base, a dipper, dippeb-arms and means to operate the same,'at least one of said dipper-arms being pivotally secured at one 35 end to said dipper and both such arms bein yieldably'secured at the opposite ends to said operating means, and mechanism for independently imparting substantially rectilinear motion to such opposite end of said arms, so the angle the arms bear to each other may vary as such opposite ends are moved. p

14. An excavator comprising in combination mechanism for operating a dipper dis- 95 posed as a whole rearwardly of said dipper, dipper-arms for said dipper, and dipper-arm operating means comprising movable members operated through said mechanism to advance and withdraw said dipper, said dipper-arms engaging said dipper and pivbtally engaging said dipper-arm operating means, whereby said dipper may be advanced 'or withdrawn and also swung in'a plane at an angle to the plane of advancement.

1:). An excavator comprising in combination a suitable supporting structure, a dipper actuating mechanism comprising ower arms engaging said dipper at an ang e, movable members supporting said power arms in swinging relation at different heights in said structurc,'and means for moving the portions of said power arms engaging said movitble means in fixed and substantially rectilinear, parallel paths.

16. An excavator comprising in combination witha suitable supporting structure a dipper and dipper-actuating means, comprising movable members mounted to travel longitudinally on said structure at different 120 heights and pivotally connected to saiddipper and means for applying power to said members individually, whereby each said member may be caused to exert either a thrust or a pull on said dipper. I

17. In an excavator, a truck, a dipper operated therefrom, and mechanism for operating said dipper, said mechanism comprising a power-arm arranged to advance and withdraw the dipper in an approximately'hori- 130 18. In an excavator, a truck, a dipper op- 1 erated therefrom and mechanism for operatingsaid dipper, said mechanism comprising I a cross-head with an attached power-arm arranged to advance and withdraw the dipper in'an approximately horizontal plane and an additional cros s-head and attached powerarm arranged to tilt said dipper in a plane at an angle to said horizontal plane.-

19. An excavator comprising a dipper, a pair of dipper-arms at least one of which is pivoted thereto, a pair of fixed guides, movable members supported by said guides and adapted to travel therein and pivotally connected to said dipper-arms, and means f or moving one of said arms in the direction of its length through one movable member and means for moving the other arm. at an angle to the first arm through the other movable member.

20. An excavator comprising a truck, guideways carried thereby at different heights, members movably arran 'ed to travel in said guideways, mechanism or controlling the travel of said members, arms pivoted to and operated by said movable members, and a dipper having said arms attached thereto.

21. In an excavator, a dipper, rigidpowerarms for advancing, withdrawing, raising and lowering the dipper, said power-arms being secured to the dipper at an angle to each other, and means for operating the powereirms independently.

22. in an excavator, a dipper, a suitable supporting structure and dipper power-arms between said structure and said dipper, each power-arm being arranged so as to constitute a radius upon which the dipper may be swung by another power-arm, and means operating in approximately longitudinal paths for operating said power-arms independently. o

23. In an excavator, dipper, ;a suitable supporting structure and dipper power-arms between said structure and said dipper, each power-arm being arranged so as to constitute a radius upon which the dipper may be swung by another power-arm,aneans operating in approxinmtely-longitudinal paths for operating said power-arms independently and for changing the position of the powerarms with respect. to the supporting structure.

An excavator con'iprising a dipper, rigid power-arms connected to said dipper and adapted to support and move. it, said power-arms extending from said dipper singularly with respect to each other to separated movable members, movable members adapted to be independently adyanced or withdrawn and-thereby operate said powerarms, a frame-work carrying said movable members, and operatin means for moving fsaid movable members independently.

25. An excavator comprising a-dipper, aframework and rigid power-arms secured at one end to, the dipper and extending theref rom, one above the other and at an angle to each other, to -operative power means, and means carried by the frame-work .for advancing a'nd withdrawing the other -end of said power-arms in approximately longitudinal paths.

26. An excavator comprising a frame-- work, a dipper and a plurality of dipper- -arms supporting and controlling said dip- ;per, said dipper-arms bein ;the dipper and with operatlve power means 1 whereby each may be a vanced or withdrawn independently, a means operating said arms mounted cn.a frame-work at vertically separated points so that said arms =are disposed ang'ularly with respect to each :other.

27. An excavator comprisin a supporting structure, movable members carried thereby at verticallyseparated points, rigid dipper-arms o eratlvely connected with said movable mom ers and extending therefrom at an angle to each other to support the dipper, means for moving said movable members longitudinally so as to advance'the raise or lower it and withdraw it in proximity to the structure, and means on revolving the supporting structure.

28. In an excavator, a dipper, a suitable supporting structure, and power-arms between the supporting structure and the dip per, each power-arm being arranged to exe'rt -either a thrust or a pull upon said dipper, said power arms being independently operable at different speeds and arranged so that an end of either may be locked in any longitudinal position, whereby the locked or slower moving power-arm may serve as a radius around which the dipper may be 'swung by the other arm, and means for moving said arms independently, at diti'ercnt speeds, or for locking the end of one arm against longitudinal travel relative to the other.

29. In an excavator, a dipper, a support ing structure, sets of beams arranged thereon at ditl'erentlevels, and each set of beams constitutingspaced 1 tracks, dipper-arms attached to the dipper andto operating means movable along said tracks, and operating means for said dipper-arms, said arms bc-' ing arranged with respect to the dipper and operating means so as to swing between said spaced tracks.

30. In an excavator, a dipper, a supporting structure, an upper dipper-arm and a connected with dipper out from the supporting structure,

lower dipper-arm, the upper dipper-arm. arranged with respect to the supporting structure and the dipper to exert a thrust to lower the dipper and a pull to elevate it, 5 the lower dipper-arm arranged with respect to the supporting structure and the dipper to exert a thrust to advance or elevate the dipper and a pull to Withdraw or lower it, and mechanism for indemndently operating 10 each dipper-arxn.

31: In an excavator, a dipper, a support-- ing structure, a plurality of dipper-arms, each arranged to exert a thrust or a pull upon the dipper in a diit'erent direction FRANK R. KNXGHT.

i messes Runonru D. B11011 M, EDWARD L. SYnuoX. 

